Hockey’s time-twister on uni fees

Video of Joe Hockey protesting as a student against university fees from 1987. Courtesy: Nine News

THEN: Joe Hockey in 1987 protesting the introduction of 'administration fees' on the then free university system. Source: Supplied

Job ID: PD281493. The Prime Minister Tony Abbott with The Treasurer Joe Hockey, during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House Canberra. The last day of Question Time for Budget week, in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra. Pic by. Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

OH, the innocence of youth. The year was 1987. The event a student protest against the introduction of university fees. The protester ... Joe Hockey.

Back then the villain was Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke.

The politicians said they needed to spread the pain of skyrocketing education costs.

This 22-year-old University of Sydney student wouldn't have a bar of the $250 "administration fee".

Up to that point, his education had been at no personal expense.

The protest? Well, this fee was a threat to the principle of a free education for all Australians. Wasn't it?

That student is now the Treasurer.

This treasurer, like the one then, doesn't see things from the same perspective as a mere student.

This 27-year-old news report from Channel Nine is sure, however, to cause embarrassment.

Where, now, is the idealist appeal for equal education opportunities for all?

"We continue to go out onto the streets and to protest, and actively encourage the public to support us in our campaign for free education," the young Hockey said.

The older Hockey is more likely to besmirch such action and ideals.

But he did attempt to explain to Channel 10 recently that his protest, back then, was about having to pay upfront fees. There was no learn-now, pay-later HECS debt back then either.

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